Gepard-class fast attack craft

S79 Wiesel
Class overview
Operators:	German Navy
Preceded by:	Albatros class
In service:	1982–present
In commission:	1982–present
Planned:	10
Completed:	10
Active:	4
General characteristics
Type:	Fast attack craft
Displacement:	390 t (380 long tons; 430 short tons)
Length:	57.6 m (189 ft)
Beam:	7.8 m (25 ft 7 in)
Draught:	2.6 m (8 ft 6 in)
Propulsion:	4 × diesel engines, totalling 13,235 kW (17,748 hp)
Speed:	40 knots (74 km/h; 46 mph)
Complement:	5 officers, 31 enlisted
Electronic warfare & decoys:	Decoy launcher HOT DOG Chaff launcher DAG 2200 Wolke
Armament:	1 × Otobreda 76 mm gun 4 × MM38 Exocet anti-ship missiles 1 × GDC RAM launcher, 21 cells 2 × MG50-1 machine guns Mine laying capability

The Type 143A Gepard class is a class of missile bearing fast attack craft (German: Schnellboot) and the only one still in service with the German Navy since 1990.

It is an evolution of the Albatros class, the main difference is the replacement of the second 76 mm gun by the RAM system. It is planned that Gepard-class vessels will gradually be supplemented by Braunschweig-class corvettes and to be replaced by a new class of corvettes in the 2020s.

The ships in class are named after small to medium sized predatory animals; Gepard is German for "cheetah".

List of ships

NATO pennant number	German pennant number	Name	Call sign	Commissioned	Decommissioned
P6121	S 71	Gepard	DRCE	7 December 1982	12 December 2014
P6122	S 72	Puma	DRCF	17 February 1983	14 December 2015
P6123	S 73	Hermelin	DRCG	28 April 1983
P6124	S 74	Nerz	DRCH	14 July 1983	31 March 2012
P6125	S 75	Zobel	DRCI	28 September 1983
P6126	S 76	Frettchen	DRCJ	16 December 1983
P6127	S 77	Dachs	DRCK	22 March 1984	31 March 2012
P6128	S 78	Ozelot	DRCL	25 May 1984	18 December 2014
P6129	S 79	Wiesel	DRCM	12 July 1984	14 December 2015
P6130	S 80	Hyäne	DRCN	13 November 1984

The "S" and the number are part of the ship's full name. When the ships were first commissioned, their designation included only the number; however, the crews petitioned for full names, and the decision was made to combine the original names with the additional animal name.

Since 1 July 2006, all ships are part of the 7. Schnellbootgeschwader (7th Fast Patrol Boat Squadron), whereas for the eight years prior the flotilla was split into (hulls S 76–S 80) 2. Schnellbootgeschwader (2nd Fast Patrol Boat Squadron), and a smaller (hulls S 71–S 75) 7. Schnellbootgeschwader. The squadron is stationed in Warnemünde, where both predecessor squadrons were also based

Gallery

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  S71 Gepard

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  Exocet launchers onboard S74 Nerz

• RAM-Nerz.jpg

  RAM launcher onboard S74 Nerz

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  S 75 Zobel